Mysuru, 18 September 2026: The IIIT-Bangalore Innovation Centre, under the NAIN 2.0 programme, organised and hosted MEDHA – Medical Device Hackathon 2026 at JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru, in collaboration with JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), BETIC and IIT Bombay. The programme brought together students, faculty members, innovators, mentors and members of the medical fraternity to identify real-world healthcare challenges and develop innovative medical-device solutions.
MEDHA 2026 was designed to create awareness among students about medical-device innovation and entrepreneurship, connect them with real-world healthcare and clinical problems, facilitate multidisciplinary team formation and introduce them to company formation, startup registration, patents, intellectual property protection and the investor perspective. The programme provided a pathway from problem identification and innovation to intellectual property, company formation, investment and commercialisation.
The programme witnessed participation from approximately 160 participants, with 20 student teams identified for the medical-device building hackathon. The initiative connected clinical problems with student innovation, technology development, intellectual property, company formation and investment readiness.
The inaugural programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. T. M. Pramod Kumar, Principal, JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru, followed by an introduction to the objectives of MEDHA 2026 by Dr. K. Bangarurajan. Dr. Prashant M. Vishwanath, Dean (Research), JSS AHER, Mysuru, provided an overview of the innovation ecosystem. The Chief Guest, Mr. Amandeep Srivatsava, Chief Innovative Officer, IIIT-Bangalore, and other distinguished guests addressed the participants.
A key component of the programme was the presentation of medical-device problem statements sourced from the healthcare ecosystem. Students participated in group discussions and formed multidisciplinary teams around the identified challenges. The programme schedule included problem-statement presentations, team formation, announcement of formed teams and poster presentations.
The programme also included three knowledge sessions covering company formation, intellectual property and patents, and the investor perspective. Mr. Abishek Bharadwaj A. B., Chairman, Mysore Chapter, Institute of Company Secretaries of India, conducted a session on “Company Formation – Pros and Cons.” Dr. Chennamma, Associate Professor, Department of Master of Computer Applications, JSS Science and Technology University, Mysuru, conducted a session on “IPR Filing and Patents.” Mr. Sabareeshan C. K., Independent Director, BPL Ltd. and Panasonic Appliances India Ltd., Angel Investor and Startup Mentor, conducted the session on “Investors Perspective.”
The IIIT-Bangalore Innovation Centre will support the winning team with an incubation facility, with a focus on company registration and taking the innovation beyond the project mode. This further reflects the NAIN 2.0 approach of connecting student innovation with company formation, intellectual property, investment readiness and commercialisation.
MEDHA 2026 reflects the broader vision of NAIN 2.0, implemented through the IIIT-Bangalore Innovation Centre, to build a sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities of Karnataka. The programme demonstrates an approach that connects clinical problem identification, team formation and solution development, IPR and patent awareness, company formation and startup pathways, and investor readiness and commercialisation.